About the role

At Kernel Wealth, our mission is to make investing simple, accessible, and trustworthy. As our AML Compliance Officer, you play a vital role in safeguarding that trust. You will lead and maintain Kernel’s AML/CFT compliance programme, ensuring it meets all legal and regulatory requirements under the AML/CFT Act and related guidance.

Reporting directly to the COO, you will work closely with senior leadership and partner with product, operations, engineering, and customer teams to embed compliance into the heart of our business. Your expertise ensures we identify and manage financial crime risks effectively, while enabling a seamless customer experience that reflects our commitment to transparency and integrity.

This is more than a compliance role; it’s about enabling growth and innovation while protecting what matters most: our customers’ confidence in Kernel.

About Kernel

We're a 100% Kiwi owned and operated fintech on a mission to make wealth accessible for every Kiwi. Our investment platform takes the guesswork out of investing – offering KiwiSaver, Managed Funds, US shares & ETFs, and Smart Saver accounts, all in one place with some of the lowest fees in the market.

We're at an exciting stage. Scaling fast, expanding our team of globally experienced financial professionals, and building the foundations for what's next. Our culture is collaborative, hands-on and ambitious – built on trust, innovation and saying it like it is. We value diverse perspectives, empower individuality, and believe the best ideas come from thinking together.

Things move quickly here, and every person plays a key role in shaping our future.

What you’ll do

• Lead Kernel’s AML/CFT programme
  • Own and maintain the AML/CFT Compliance Programme, keeping policies and controls current with regulations.
  • Ensure risk assessments reflect our products, customers, and channels.
  • Advise senior leadership on emerging risks and best practices for digital wealth platforms.

• Shape customer due diligence and monitoring
  • Design and oversee CDD and EDD processes that scale with growth.
  • Approve high-risk customers and complex cases.
  • Work with product and engineering to embed AML/CFT controls into onboarding and monitoring workflows.

• Drive account monitoring and investigations
  • Manage transaction monitoring rules and thresholds.
  • Review alerts, investigate unusual activity, and escalate when needed.
  • Prepare and submit Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and maintain accurate records.

• Report and engage with stakeholders
  • Deliver clear AML/CFT reporting to leadership and the Board.
  • Coordinate audits and regulatory interactions.
  • Ensure timely filings and responses to maintain Kernel’s integrity.

• Build a culture of compliance
  • Develop and deliver AML/CFT training tailored to different roles.
  • Promote awareness and integrity across the business.
  • Provide practical advice on new products, features, and partnerships.

• Champion continuous improvement
  • Stay ahead of regulatory changes and industry trends.
  • Identify opportunities to automate and streamline AML/CFT processes.
  • Collaborate with product and engineering to leverage data and technology for smarter compliance.
  • Own remediation of audit findings and drive lasting improvements.

You’ll be great if you bring

• Around 5+ years of experience in AML/CFT, financial crime, compliance, or related risk roles within financial services, fintech, or investment/wealth management.

• Strong understanding of New Zealand AML/CFT laws and regulations, or experience in a similar jurisdiction with the ability to quickly adapt to NZ requirements.

• Practical experience designing and running AML/CFT frameworks, including CDD/EDD, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting.

• Comfort working with technology-enabled customer journeys, ideally in a high-growth environment.

• Sharp analytical skills and sound judgement to assess financial crime risks and make clear, proportionate decisions.

• Excellent communication skills, you can explain complex requirements in a way that makes sense to both technical and non-technical teams.

• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and keep multiple workstreams moving.

• Integrity and objectivity in every decision

• A proactive, curious mindset with a desire to understand processes and risks

• Collaborative approach to building strong relationships across the business

• Solutions-focused and pragmatic when tackling compliance challenges

• Resilience and adaptability in a fast-growing environment

Bonus things you could bring along to the role

• Professional certifications such as ACAMS or ICA.

• Experience engaging with regulators, auditors, or law enforcement on AML/CFT matters.

• Familiarity with modern AML/CFT tools and systems (e.g. electronic verification, sanctions and PEP screening, Power BI for monitoring, Hubspot for customer records).

• Experience in a start-up or scale-up environment where you’ve built or uplifted AML/CFT capabilities.

Why You’ll Love it at Kernel

• Step into a role where your work shapes the future of investing in New Zealand. You’ll have the chance to influence how compliance enables innovation and growth, making a real impact on both the business and our customers.

• Shape investment products in a way no other fintech in New Zealand is approaching, connecting everyday financial goals with intuitive and customer centric design.

• Contribute to a platform trusted by tens of thousands of Kiwis, helping them feel more confident and in control of their money.

• Join a team built on trust, collaboration, and flexibility, where feedback is constructive and everyone has a voice.
• Competitive compensation package

• Enjoy the best of both worlds with a flexible hybrid setup, connect in person while keeping the freedom to work from home up to couple of days each week (minimum 3 days/week in the office).

• Health insurance, parental leave top-up, and professional development support

• Extra staff holidays, office snacks, coffee, and a dog-friendly environment

Join our team

Not sure you meet every requirement? We encourage you to apply. We value growth, impact, and mindset just as much as specific experience. If this opportunity sounds like you, send us your cover letter explaining why you’re excited about the role and working at Kernel, along with your CV.

Visit our careers page for more on working at Kernel and follow us on LinkedIn & Instagram. to stay connected.